Adjustable menu or advertising device



J. DICOMES ET AL ADJUSTABLE MENU 0R ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed June 23,1928 Patented Nov. zo, 192e.r

UNITED STATES 1,692,633 PATENT OFFICE'.

JAMES DICOMES AND PETER JANOS, 01?'A BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE MENU 0R ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Application filed June 23, 1928. Serial No. 287,670.

device, in which a large number and great variety of signs may bedisplayed or exhibited in a muohsmaller and neater structure than hasheretofore been possible.

Our novel device is of the type wherein the signs or indicia arecarriedon flexible strips or ribbons, adapted to be rolled from one spindle toanother and vice versa, and another obje-ctV of the invention is ourjparticular novel arrangement of spindles, and operating handles, lbywhich arrangement we are enabled to accomplish the desirableresultsabove briefiy mentioned.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of spring.tension means, each such means exerting tension or frictionsimultaneously on each pair of spindles, to control the rotation thereofand to prevent too-free rotation thereof.

The above and other objects of the invention, details ofconstruction,combination of parts, and advantages, will beY hereinafter more fullypointed out, described and claimed.

Referring tothe drawings, illustratinga preferred embodiment of ourpresent invention, f

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of our novel displaydevice; Y Fig. 2 is a side elevation of our novel advertising displaydevice; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale,on the line 3,-3 of Fig. 1. c l

Referring now to the drawings, for a detailed description of theinvention, its construction and operation, 1 designates a back havinglprojecting partitions or walls, 2, l3 and 5, the partition 4 beingsecured to the top and bottom ofthe device, these partitions dividingthe device into three vertical com- `partments A, B and C. A frame 6 isaixed to the side walls of the device by screws 7, v

this frame carrying a pane of glass 8 separated into a plurality ofsight openings by horizontal and vertical strips or bands 9, whichstrips may be painted on the glass, or

applied in any other suitable or desirable t manner.

Arranged in the compartment A are a plurality of pairs of split spindles10, having a bearing at one end in the partition 3, and extendingthrough the partition 2, handles 11 beingprovided topturn the spindles10 in a desired direction, in order that the yflexible strip or ribbon12 may be wound from one l to the other. The ends of the ribbons 12 areinserted through the splits in the spindles, thus affording ampleholding capacity.` It

' will be appreciated that any type of handle may be utilized, such as awing handle, keytype, or any desired form, the knurled handles hereinshown being for illustrative 'purposes only.

A collar 13 is pro-vided on each spindle to I prevent end-play of saidspindles. As will be readily understood, each pair of these spindlescarries one flexible strip or ribbon, on which may be displayed suitablecharacters or notations, the drawingof the present applicationillustrating ythe ribbons as carrying ,variousv food articles. Eachribbon 12 is led from the spindles 10, over guide rods 14, which arearranged in front of the spindles 10 and are closely adjacent to theglass 80, so that the ribbon will be carried in a flat formation towardthe front of the device and clearly visible. v

The guide rods 14 preferably extend eny tirely across the front of thedevice, serving as guide rods in each of the three compartments A, B andC.

In order to prevent toofree rotation of the spindles 10, I provide, onthe outer side ofthe wall or partition 2, astud or boss 15, offset froma point between each two handles 11, and around this stud15 ispositioneda U-shaped spring 16, having arcuate or curved arms adapted tobear upon the spindles 10, or upon the collars carried thereby, andexert tension thereon. These springs will hold the spindles in anyposition to which they may be rotated, thus insuring pro-per alinementof the characters on the ribbons 12 with theirl respective sideopenings. s

A serious difficulty with prior devices of this character, especiallywhen utilized as a restaurantmenmhas been the paucity of inlio Yan

studs 15, and for the same purpose;

formation carried by said devices, which must ot' necessity berelatively small, neat and attractive. Prior devices, therefore, havebeen extremely limited in their scope and usefulness, and were'unable toconvey all of the information that the restaurant prof prietor ormanager would like to convey to his patrons or customers.

This is particularly true in the case of menus, where a certainmeat,fsuchas roast beef, for example, may be served With any one ofdozens of vegetables or sauces, different'combinations calling fordifferent prices, and the like. In my present device, however, it ispossible to display any desired meat', fish or desired article throughone sight opening, and to display, through an alined sight opening, theparticular vegetable, sauce or the like which is served with thatparticular article on a certain day or time, and also to display,through another alined sight opening, the price of that particularcombination,"all of these features and elements being contained in asmall, compact, neatand attractive device. able results through ourparticular arrangement of ribbon-carrying spindles, together with thearrangement of unitary guide rods extending the full Width of the frontot the device.

In carrying out this arrangement We provide, inthe compartment C, aplurality of pairs of'split spindles 1T, having a bearing at one end inthe partition 4, and passing through the partition or Wall 5, a collar18 being provided on. each spindle, and each spinelle havin a knob orhandle 19 on its outer end. Springs 20 and studs 21 are provided, in amanner `'similar to the` springs uid ible strip 0r ribbon 22 is carriedbyV each pair of spindles 1T and is adapted to be Wound from one to theother, or vice versa, by means of the knobs or handles 19, and to alinethe characters carried by said strip with its respective sight opening.l Y Located directly behind the` spindles 17, and. parallel therewith,are a plurality of pairs of spindles 28, extending under the` artitionLl, which is fixed in the top and bot om of the device and does notextend tothe back 1, saidspindles 23 having a bearingat one end in the'partition 3 and extending through the Wall 5 and havingr knobsor handles24nd their outer end, by means of which the flexible strip or ribbon 25may be wound from one` spindle 23 to the other, or vice versa, vin itscompartment B, Springs 26 and studs 27 are provided for the spindles 23similar to `the springsand studs above described, to prevent `too-freerotation of the spindles1 23.

It will thus be noted, that our novel arrangement of spindles andhandles orknobs, space is Vconserved to a great degree', enabling thedisplayingof a great variety offinorma- `We are enabled to achieve thesedesir-` handles 11 on the left hand side ot' the device will be rotateduntilV the Roast beef appears behind its sight opening then one of thehandlesZ/ on the right hand side of the device Will be rotated untillthe Mashed potatoes likewise appears behind its` sight opening; and thenone of the-handles 19 will be rotated until the proper price,flel-appears behind its sightopening, all of the'flexible strips orribbons being guided in close, ilat alinement by means of 7the unitaryguide rods'll.` y i lt will thus be apparentl that by utilizing onlythree, ribbons or flexible strips, a. greatvariety of dishes orcombinations canbe indicated or displayed, and that `by having aplurality of such `sets of three ribbons superposed,

an infinite variety of combinations can be displayed in the one' device,being lreadily changeable or adjustable, and being permanent initstnat-ure andconstruction; Brackets or straps 28 are illustrated indotted lines, vby means 'of which theA device can carried from place toplace. If it isdesired tostand vthe device on" topof ac'ounter, :the

lbrackets 28 will be dispensed with, ofcourse.

Our present device is sim le, eilicient, possessed of manyadvantageouseatures, 4and since We believe the same is novel, We havetherefore claimed the same inthe present application. i

A guard, illustrated indotted lines atV 35,

is applied at each en d of the casing, to cover, conceal and protect thesprings, only the handles projecting beyondthis guard or cover pate.` gV'ThileWehavel necessarily described our present invention somewhat indetail, it will be appreciated that we may vary the size, shape andarrangement ofl parts` Within reasonablywide limits Withoutdepartingfrom the spirit of the invention. l Y

' "Our invention is furtherdescribed and defined in the form 'of claimsas follows; 1

` "1. na device ofthe kind described, a easing a plurality of partitionsdividing said casing into Vat leastthree vertical compartments, apair'ofspindles in each end compartment, a pair of spindles in thecentral compartment; said last air of spindles being parallelwithandlofsu cientlength toextend directly in back ofthe spindlesrin oneend compartment, a flexible' strip "carried by each each of saidflexible strips passing over said guide rods and being fed past saidsight openings, and means, operab e from the ends of said casing toselectively Wind said flexible strips from one spindle to the other. 2.In a device of the kind described, a casinfr caing into at least threevertical compartments, a pair of spindles in each end compartment, apair of spindles in the central compartment, said last pair of spindlesbeing parallel With and of sufficient length to extend directly in backof the spindles in one end compartment, a flexible strip carried by eachpair of spindles, the front of said casing having alined sight openingstherein, guide rods extending the full length of said casing and inclose proximity to said sight openings, each of said flexible stripspassing over said guide rods and being fed past said sight openings,means operable from one end of said casing to Wind said flexible stripfrom one spindle to the other in one end compartment, and means on theopposite end of said casing to selectively Wind said flexible strips inthe end and central compartments from one spindle to the other, and aplurality of U-shaped springs having arcuate ends, each spring beingadapted to exert desired friction upon each pair of spindles.

3. In a device of the kind described, a casa plurality of partitionsdividing said ing, a plurality of partitions ldividing said casing intoat least three vertical compartments, a pair of spindles in each endcompartment, a pair of spindles in the central compartment, said lastpair .of spindles being parallel With and of suflicient length to extenddirectly in back of the spindles in one end compartment, a. flexiblestrip carried by each pair of spindles, the front of said casing havingalined sight openings therein, guide rods extending the full length ofsaid casing and in close proximity to said sight openings, each of saidflexible strips passing over said guide rods and being fed past saidsightopenings, means operable from one end of said casing to Wind saidflexible strip from one spindle to the other in one end compartment,means on the opposite end of said casing to selectively Wind saidflexible strips yin the end and central compartments from one spindle tothe other, a plurality of Usshaped ysprings having arcuate ends', eachspring being adapted to exert desired friction upon each pair ofspindles, anda cover plate at each end of said casing, concealing andpro tecting said springs.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specification.

JAMES DicoMEs. PETER JANos.

